Lots of diaryizing about impeachment. Just stop for a moment. We have been handed the best political opportunity in 100 years. Far better than what the Rovians thought they had when they exploited the American Tragedy of 9/11. We get to "exploit" the Truth. We get to "exploit" the facts.
A prosecutor has a word for that: JUSTICE.
And the byproduct is the generational ruin of the GOP as the party to lead government. I respect the need for Republicans to be viable and balance the inevitable excesses of the Democrats (simple human nature says this will be so) but we need a GOP that loses its love for pseudo-religious zealotry, war for political gain, and being the geisha to the rich and powerful.
But we have to THINK LIKE A PROSECUTOR. I hope you will recommend if only for the purpose of cataloging in the comments every specific issue or incident that merits investigation so that we can have a current checklist.
You don't start out with the the mob bosses. You go from the bottom up. Call as witnesses all retired military, former appointees, fired officials, exiled scientists, work up the chain. Follow the evidence in every agency--Energy, Justice, Interior, Defense, Education, on and on and on. Then as the cases are built, bring in the special prosecutors. Flip one disgraced official after another.
Get right up to the threshhold and then ...
Let Rove, Rice, Cheney, and Bush twist in the wind right up through the August 2008 conventions. The stories will absolutely dominate the media and give Democrats years worth of anti-GOP talking points. Move too quickly and we won't learn all we need to learn. Move to impeach and we will actually lose our leverage and no longer control the debate. And we will prematurely own this administration's problems.
And don't forget--Congress now gets to investigate itself, again, but this time it's Democrats chairing the House ethics, Reform and other committees. We still have a ton of work to do around Foley, probably even more Abramoff connections to explore, plus all the trash Delay was involved in. The probes will result in censures, maybe criminal charges, maybe even expulsions. That means possible special elections in New York (Reynolds) and Illinois (Hastert) among others. Add to this, the Libby trial and the Plame civil suit during this period. If 2006 was a nightmare for the GOP, there is no name for what 2007 will bring.
And all the while, the threat of impeachment will be the single greatest deterrent to presidential pardons. Even if not removed, Bush is reportedly obsessed with his "legacy"--he does not want the Bush name to be there with Andrew Johnson and--horror of horrors--Bill Clinton as the three impeached presidents. Issue just one pardon Mr. Bush and, well, we're just not sure how long we can hold back Mr. Conyers. I mean, we love him and all, but that dude's pretty crazy. I'd hate to see what would happen to someone on his bad side if he's out of control.
Meanwhile, we still have Iraq, national security and our horrible financial situation to think about. An impeachment is a luxury right now and in some ways actually forecloses options.
Is impeachment deserved? Yes, and far more. But not here, and not now.